Firefighter Injured In Fall From 2nd Floor

Fort Lauderdale — A firefighter was rushed to the hospital after falling through the ceiling of a house engulfed by flames on Tuesday night, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue officials said.

Division Chief Stephen McInerny said fire officials received a call about 8:40 p.m. about a wood-frame home burning in both floors. He said it took 26 firefighters about 20 minutes to bring under control the fire in the 700 block of Southwest 13th Avenue. When Lt. Phil Pennington was fighting the fire in the second story of the house, the floor caved in and Pennington fell 16 feet, McInerny said.

Pennington was taken to Broward General Medical Center in serious condition with back injuries and heavy bruises. Pennington is expected to recover.

The house sustained about $150,000 of damage and was ruled uninhabitable. The family was not home when the fire started and there were no other injuries, McInerny said.